Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrids at 2012 Detroit Motor Show

The German luxury car maker's top selling sedan just went turned super eco-friendly with some astonishing fuel efficiency figures in both its gasoline and diesel hybrid spec models

4.2 L/100 km and 109g CO2/Km are some eye-catching fuel efficiency figures that Mercedes-Benz has quite proudly plastered at the sides of its new E300 BlueTEC Hybrid model that is on display at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

Setting new standards for luxury-class business vehicles the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID (available as a Saloon and Estate) combines the 4-cylinder diesel engine of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID that produces 206.83PS of power and 500 Nm of torque combined with an electric motor producing an additional 250 Nm on demand, resulting in what Mercedes-Benz terms as the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world.

Alongside the E300 in Detroit is a mightier E400 HYBRID model with a V6 petrol motor that makes it  310.25PS strong and gives it 370Nm of torque, all of which is further supplemented by 250 Nm from the electric motor. The consumption figures based on the American CAFE standard are 10.2 kmpl (9.8 L/100KM) in the city, 13.18 kmpl (7.59 L/100KM) on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 11.48 kmpl (8.71 L/100KM).

"With these two E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive. The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models", explains Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Despite their newly acquired green credentials, the new E-class HYBRID models do not require their passengers to have to compromise when it comes to space, however, whether in terms of the interior or the luggage compartment.

DC Avanti unveiled at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

DC Design unveils India's first ever sports car, the DC Avanti. This is no concept car, it's a road worthy prototype destined to hit our roads by 2013

The DC Avanti is a big deal for India considering that this is the first sports car to be made by an Indian firm. The news gets even better when it was confirmed that the DC Avanti is not just a concept but a road worthy prototype that has been confirmed for production. The production run for the Avanti will begin in 2013.

The DC Avanti is not a car cobbled together with bits from old cars just to make an attempt at being the first Indian sports car. The Avanti will be powered by Ford’s revolutionary EcoBoost engine technology. The unit is a 2.0 litre DOHC four cylinder featuring Direct Injection, four valves per cylinder with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and turbo charging. Power output has been rated at 243PS with 366Nm of torque. The engine meets Euro5 norms and an ECU remap can make it comply with Euro6 legislations as well, DC is eyeing the export market as well. 

The engine will be mated to a six speed manual gearbox for the purist while a six-speed dual clutch gearbox will be on offer for a higher technological plane. The car is electronically limited to a top speed of 250 km/h. The car will come with ABS and Airbags as standard.

The suspension consists of unequal length wishbones in conjunction with coil over shock absorbers all around for those traditional sports car drive dynamics.

With its low slung silhouette and sports car levels of performance the Avanti will no doubt be on the minds of petrolheads across the nations with or without deep pockets. But at an unbeatable price tag of Rs. 30 lakhs (Ex-Showroom) the DC Avanti makes a strong case for itself as a proper sports car. 

Indian petrolhead and designer Dilip Chhabria is the man who calls the shots in DC Designs expressed his enthusiasm about the DC Avanti by saying, “The Indian market for high-end automobiles is on a steep uphill curve as witnessed year-on-year and our focus is on the top end of the rarefied niche. We intend to set up an all new facility at Talegaon, near Pune to build this vehicle. 300 – 400 units of the Avanti will be produced between 2013 and 2014. Based on demand production capacity could be ramped up to four digit figures per annum for the Avanti.”

New Hyundai Sonata unveiled

Hyundai has captured the attention of everyone at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo with the new Sonata alongside a host of other vehicles

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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has unveiled the new Sonata at the 11th Auto Expo in Delhi. The new Sonata is designed with Hyundai’s fluidic design concept which as expected makes the car stand out from its competitors and stays true to Hyundai’s new family design language. The car has a 2.4 litre GDI engine that churns out 201PS of power. The engine has been designed keeping with the times and features direct injection along with Variable Timing Valve Train (VTVT) to increase fuel economy and improve performance. The car comes with an option of a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Alongside, the new Sonata the Korean car maker has also showcased the new Elantra and the three-door Veloster utility coupe.  The Elantra has two engine options. The first is a 1.8 litre petrol engine with VTVT, the second engine is a 1.6 litre CRDI VGT. Both automatic and manual gearboxes are on offer.

The Hyundai Veloster belongs to the new range of radical cross over vehicles. The Veloster comes with three 1.6 litre engine options, two petrol engines one being an MPI unit and the other a GDI, the third engine is a diesel unit. All engines are mated to a six speed gearbox in manual form or as an automatic. The velsoter has three doors, two on the kerb side (depending on the market) and one on the driver's side. With all its practicality the Hyundai Veloster will slot in between hatchbacks and station wagons to offer convenience of both worlds.

Hyundai has also made the global premier of its new Multi-purpose Vehicle (MPV) HND-7. HND stands for Hexa Space code named. The HND-7 concept revolutionizes the use of interior space inside a vehicle. The seats offer multiple configurations for seating, the centre seats fold flat, the second row of seats can be folded for limousine like space for third row passengers.  Both the second and third row of seats can be folded down to create a large cargo load bay. The HND-7 may be an MPV but Hyundai have given it a dose of its fluidic design language to make it stand out on the roads.

Pak Suzuki Product Prices

SWIFT Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Swift 1.3 DLX	Rs. 1,156,000/-
Swift 1.3 DX	Rs. 1,056,000/-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIANA VURV Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 03, 2012

Identification	Price
Liana 1.3L RXI MT	Rs. 1,282,000/-
Liana 1.3L RXI MT CNG	Rs. 1,351,000/-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CULTUS Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Cultus VXRi	Rs. 925,000/- *
Cultus VXRi CNG	Rs. 990,000/- *

Note :

* Add Rs. 5000/- for the Metallic Color

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTO   Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Alto VXR	Rs. 727,000/- *
Alto VXR CNG	Rs. 796,000/- *

Note :

* Add Rs. 5000/- for the Metallic Color

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEHRAN Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Mehran VX	Rs. 510,000/- *
Mehran VX CNG	Rs. 576,000/- *
Mehran VXR	Rs. 562,000/- *
Mehran VXR CNG	Rs. 625,000/- *

Note :

* Add Rs. 5000/- for the Metallic Color

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APV Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 03, 2012

Identification	Price
APV 1.5L	Rs. 1,999,000/-
APV 1.5L CNG	Rs. 2,074,000/-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JIMNY Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 03, 2012

Identification	Price
Jimny JLSX M/T	Rs. 1,974,000/-
Jimny JLDX M/T	Rs. 2,123,000/-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOLAN VAN Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Bolan VX	Rs. 589,000/- *
Bolan VXR	Rs. 653,000/- *
Bolan VX CNG	Rs. 660,000/- *
Bolan VXR CNG	Rs. 721,000/- *

Note :

* Add Rs. 5000/- for the Metallic Color

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARGO VAN Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Cargo Van	Rs. 565,000/-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RAVI PICKUP Price Including Sales Tax w.e.f. January 01, 2012

Identification	Price
Ravi VX	Rs. 537,000/- *
Ravi VX CNG	Rs. 606,000/- *

Note :

* Add Rs. 5000/- for the Metallic Color

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1-	Counting for Delivery Period would start from the date of receipt of full payment at Pak Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd.

2-	Above price are subject to change without notice and price/s prevailing at the time of delivery of the vehicle/s, will apply.

3-	Please book your order/s after confirming current price/s and delivery period/s.

Ford EcoSport compact SUV unveiled

     

The wraps are finally off Ford's new global vehicle, the EcoSport. ZigWheels takes a closer look at what Ford's 'compact SUV' looks like.

Ford Motor Company on Wednesday previewed its all-new global vehicle dubbed the Ford EcoSport just three days before the start of the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. Ford provided no definite launch date but said the EcoSport could go into production within the next six months.

With a sleek and edgy approach to its styling the EcoSport is aimed at young, urban buyers looking for a little more than a hatchback and a little less than a traditional SUV. The EcoSport takes Ford's 'Kinetic' design theme a step forward and accentuates key features that have defined the car's lines, the front gets an even more aggressive high-mounted trapezoidal grille between slit-eyed LED headlamps. The EcoSport takes its inspiration from previous sportier models of the Blue Oval such as the Focus RS and is definitely on its way to appeal to the tastes of many.

Under the hood is Ford's smallest ever EcoBoost engine, which the car maker is introducing in India for the first time. The 1-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine will offer the power and performance of a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine though, with far more fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions under 140 g/km. The turbocharged mill will put out 120 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque. Ford may launch a 1.5-litre diesel spec, the same one that powers the Fiesta, in future.

India is an increasingly important auto market, and the all-new EcoSport will play a significant role in Ford's aggressive global plan to achieve a 50 percent increase in worldwide sales by mid-decade to 8 million vehicles a year. Asia Pacific and Africa is expected to deliver 60 per cent to 70 per cent of that target.

The EcoSport is the second of eight products Ford plans to bring to India by mid-decade The SUV will be built in India and Brazil and sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide. While the EcoSport's styling is bang on, its fate may well depend on the pricing, which we think could be in the Rs. 8 – 12 lakh range.

At the Expo

At Ford's stall at the Delhi Auto Expo, aside from the EcoSport, the company will also have on display the Ford Figo, the new Fiesta, the Ford Classic, and the Ford Endeavour. A major highlight will be allowing the audience to take control of the all-new Ford EcoSport, virtually. Using a motion-sensing camera, the crowd will collectively be able to control the compact SUV as it drives along the road, and unlocking information at each bend. The display will show the EcoSport on the screen, and the crowd will be prompted to lean left and right during a short drive before showing highlights of the drive and key messaging.

Ford has also set up a Figo Theatre, where customers will sit inside the car and be able to watch a film which will be played on a plasma television in front of the windscreen. The video will deliver messages on the Figo's technologies, and will allow auto show visitors to enjoy a close and personal experience with the top-selling compact. Another theatre, in 3D, will let guests don 3D goggles and navigate a virtual car interior under the guidance of a Ford engineer.

New BMW 3 Series : First Drive

The sixth generation BMW 3 Series Sedan is set to redefine benchmarks in the premium car category. Built upon a rich history that is deep rooted in BMW's DNA, the new 3 Series promises outstanding attributes that are bound to set it apart. It's an enticing car that loves to be driven as we found out from Adil Jal Darukhanawala and Vikram Gour who got a chance to experience the new 3 Series range first hand in Barcelona, Spain

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If you were to go looking for the quintessential BMW, it would have to be the 3 Series. Now in its sixth avatar, and doing away with the ‘Bangled’ lines, the new 3 Series is the amalgamation of 36 years of history and five generations of a car that has the distinction of being the world’s best-selling premium car. No doubt the new 3 Series has a lot to live up to, but the wizards at BMW have now made it an art form in developing the best and then making it even better! The BMW 3 Series Sedan has come to symbolise the aesthetic appeal, dynamics and sporting capability of BMW. It has grown in size as compared to its predecessor; however the genes remain intact in offering you one of the best drivers’ cars available off the shelf today.

The sixth generation model has done away with the flame surfacing introduced by Chris Bangle; however it still sports dynamic elegant lines. The basis of the design is governed by the sweeping bonnet, short overhang, long wheelbase and the set-back greenhouse which is now symbolic of all BMWs. The front is dominated by the new face of BMW featuring flat headlights, with LED accents above the twin corona rings, which stretch all the way to the large kidney grille. The snout is raked to give the car an aggressive look and the multi faceted character lines add the element of movement and width to the front. It’s an intense stare, almost as if the 3 Series is looking ahead with a purposeful look hunting for prey and smug in the belief that it would do so and take it down! The single central air intake on the predecessor has been done away with and has been replaced by two larger intakes positioned under the headlights and run towards the outer edges of the body. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, these air intakes also work to improve airflow around the front wheels and thereby enhancing overall aerodynamics and thus reducing fuel consumption at high speeds. The marriage of engineering and aesthetics is a BMW norm and the new 3 Series is a testament to this line of thought. While you can spend all day staring at the front end, BMW has ensured that aesthetically the new 3 Series is sense and sensibility personified from any angle.

When viewed in profile, the silhouette of the 3 Series is unmistakable. The strong shoulder line, pronounced wheel arcs filled with those gorgeous 225/50 R17 tyres (205/60 R16 for the diesel variants) and the typical BMW slant to the entire roofline give the 3 Series its family look. Despite the car being extended by 93mm and an increased wheelbase of 50mm, the proportions remain slick and sporty, which are again attributes that are well associated with the 3 Series. The clean lines run all the way to the back and the flanks feature the ‘double swage line’, essentially two character lines that run alongside each other. While the higher line adds an element of length, the lower one ushers in a sporty overtone which in turns draws attention to the car’s aggressive stance. The rear has received more of a family look and is rather similar to the current 5 Series sedan, however the strong lines and typical BMW touches to the surface ensure that the rear sums up the entire exterior design package with élan.

In order to increase the new sedan’s sporty appeal, BMW has also widened the front and rear track by 37mm and 47mm respectively. While the body width remains the same as its predecessor, the slightly protruding wheels add the final touch in terms of sporty aesthetics in establishing the sporty aura of the new 3 Series. The wider track also has healthy repercussions in the ride and handling department, but more on that later.